The atmosphere in the room froze following Ophelia's reaction, with the measuring tape lying on the floor like an invisible boundary line.
Klein looked at the terrified Lillian and then at Ophelia, who stood with her left hand hidden behind her back, radiating an aura that practically screamed at people to stay away. He sighed inwardly.
The left hand... what secret did it hold?
If he remembered correctly, when he had tried to help Ophelia down from the carriage, she had also reacted when he moved to take her left hand.
And just now, Lillian's inadvertent touch had triggered such a violent response.
It wasn't ordinary resistance, but a sort of... instinctive fear? Or was it vigilance?
Klein suppressed his doubts and stepped forward, his gentle voice breaking the stalemate. "Miss Lillian, don't be nervous. Just follow what she said and use the measurements from her right hand. There are always slight differences between the two sides of the human body anyway; it's no big deal."
He deliberately spoke in a light and natural tone, trying to downplay the anomaly.
His words acted like a sedative. Lillian glanced at him, still shaken, and then peeked timidly at Ophelia. Seeing that the woman did not object, she began nodding repeatedly like a chick pecking at grain.
"Y-yes... I understand..."
Feeling as though she had been granted a divine pardon, Lillian quickly recorded the final numbers and then retreated behind her counter almost as if she were fleeing. That small wooden plank seemed like the final barrier that could shut out all danger.
Hiding behind her ledger, she only peeked out with her eyes to secretly observe these two strange guests. Especially that tall, blonde maid; even now, there was no emotional ripple on that breathtakingly beautiful face, as if everything that had just happened never occurred.
"Is the measuring done?" Klein walked to the counter and lightly tapped the surface with his finger, pulling Lillian's attention back. "Do you have any ready-made clothes? I mean, something she can wear immediately."
"N-no..." Lillian subconsciously bit her nail, her gaze scanning the string of numbers in her notebook as she answered softly, "Miss Ophelia's measurements are... too unique. No ready-made clothing on the market could possibly fit her."
She spoke with great certainty, a judgment born of professional expertise.
Those numbers were like a golden ratio constructed by magic, perfect to the point of being unreal. A figure like this—let alone in a small-town shop—even the high-end tailors in the imperial capital who served the nobility had likely never encountered it.
"I see..." Klein pondered for a moment.
He understood Lillian's point. Ophelia's current maid uniform was proof enough of the problem.
Seeing that he seemed troubled, Lillian quickly added, "However, if Master Klein is in a hurry, I can modify two semi-finished pieces from the shop!"
Her voice trembled slightly with nervousness, but her eyes gradually became serious, driven by professional instinct.
"Although the fabric and styles are already set, I can recut them according to Miss Ophelia's measurements! I can at least guarantee a proper fit! It will be much better than that... that maid uniform!"
When she mentioned the words "maid uniform," Lillian's voice dropped even lower, as if she were afraid of causing offense.
"Very well," Klein decided immediately after a moment's thought. "First, use the semi-finished pieces to rush out two sets—one set of casual clothes and one that's easy to move in. Just get her out of that current outfit."
He paused, his gaze scanning the semi-finished garments hanging behind the counter, and added, "In addition, use the best fabrics in your shop to customize five more sets for her. You decide on the styles. Money is not an issue."
"F-five sets?!"
Lillian's eyes instantly rounded, and she even forgot to bite her nail. Her mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg.
This was a massive deal!
Five custom sets, if made with the best fabric in the shop plus her labor fees, she could earn at least... Lillian quickly calculated in her head, her small face turning bright red.
This amount of money was enough to cover three months of the shop's expenses!
With one sentence, the fear and restraint on Lillian's face were immediately replaced by the excitement of receiving a major order.
"Of course, Master Klein! Don't you worry! I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"
Her voice rose in pitch, and her previously timid eyes brightened, as if she had instantly forgotten the fright from moments ago.
Lillian excitedly held her notebook, quickly scanning the numbers as her mind began to envision the cutting and alteration of the fabrics.
Adjusting semi-finished clothes to fit such a size was no small task, especially with Ophelia's almost counter-intuitive physical proportions. The shoulder width, bust, waist, and hips—every measurement required individual adjustment, as the slightest mistake could ruin the silhouette of the entire garment.
But for Lillian, this was not just a problem; it was a challenge.
A challenge that could prove her craftsmanship.
"Master Klein, why don't you and Miss Ophelia take a walk around the streets first?" Lillian clutched her notebook and took the initiative to speak, her voice tinged with a hint of cheerfulness. "I can finish the alterations very soon. One hour at most!"
As she spoke, she was already heading toward the workshop in the back of the shop, her steps hurried, almost at a trot.
Klein raised an eyebrow.
One hour?
He looked at Lillian's petite back and then at Ophelia's tall figure, silently calculating the workload in his head.
To alter two sets of clothes to fit perfectly within an hour was not an easy task. Ripping seams, recutting, sewing... every step required extremely precise operation.
"There's no need to be so rushed," Klein called out to her, his tone showing a bit of concern. "I'm not in that much of a hurry. Just take your time so you don't exhaust yourself."
"It's fine!" Lillian turned back at the workshop door, insisting for once, her small face flushed with excitement. "I want to try! This figure... these proportions..."
Her voice grew smaller as her gaze unconsciously drifted to Ophelia, who was still standing by the platform. Her eyes sparkled with a near-obsessive light.
It was a professional enthusiasm unique to those focused on their craft, allowing her to temporarily forget her social anxiety and even the earlier scare.
"Making clothes for someone like this is the only way to truly prove my skill!"
Lillian took a deep breath and gripped her notebook tightly, her gaze becoming incredibly determined.
"This is the most perfect figure I have ever encountered since becoming a tailor! If I can do this right, then... then I am the best tailor in this town!"
After saying this, Lillian disappeared behind the workshop door, leaving only the sounds of rustling and searching.
Klein was stunned for a moment, then chuckled.
It seemed everyone had their own obsessions. For Lillian, making clothes for Ophelia was not just a business transaction, but an opportunity to prove herself.
He turned to look at Ophelia, who was still standing on the platform in a standard posture, her golden eyes looking at him calmly.
On that face, which was as exquisite as a work of art, there was still no emotional ripple.
However, Klein noticed that her left hand was still behind her back, hidden in the folds of the oversized maid uniform, her fingers slightly curled as if she were gripping something.
"Come down," Klein beckoned her, his tone gentle. "Let's go for a walk. An hour is just enough time to wander through town."
Ophelia nodded and stepped off the platform.
Her movements were still upright and elegant, every step seeming precisely calculated with consistent stride and standard posture. But Klein noticed that her left hand never came out from behind her back; she kept it there as if that hand simply did not exist.
Rustling sounds were already coming from the workshop, along with Lillian's self-muttering: "This size... have to rip this part out... raise the waistline... redo the darts for the bust... the sleeves need changing too..."
Her voice was full of excitement and focus.
Klein pushed open the shop door, and the sunlight outside spilled in, carrying the warmth unique to midday.
"Let's go," he said to Ophelia in a relaxed tone. "It's a good chance to see what's fun in this town. And... I need to restock some alchemy materials too."
Ophelia followed silently behind him, her long golden hair shimmering with fine light in the sun like flowing gold.
In the tailor shop behind them, Lillian was completely immersed in her own world. The sounds of scissors, needles, thread, and fabric intertwined to compose a feverish symphony belonging only to a tailor.
...
Stepping out of the tailor shop, the sunlight was just right.
Klein walked along the town's streets with his hands in his pockets, while Ophelia followed half a step behind him, maintaining the standard distance for a maid.
The town in the afternoon was a bit livelier than in the morning. Street vendors began to hawk their wares, a few children chased and played at the mouth of an alley, and the scents of baked bread and stewed meat drifted through the air.
Occasionally, passersby would see Ophelia's overly beautiful face and that ridiculous maid uniform, and they couldn't help but take a few extra looks before whispering to one another.
Klein was already accustomed to these gazes.
"Is there anywhere you want to go?" he asked over his shoulder, his tone casual.
"Wherever you wish to go is fine." Ophelia's answer was flat as always, devoid of any personal preference.
Klein didn't stand on ceremony.
Since he was free anyway, he might as well restock his materials. The red copper powder he bought last time was almost gone, and his moonlight grass was running low. He could take this opportunity to replenish everything.
He led Ophelia through a series of twists and turns, passing through two alleys and avoiding the noise of the main street, finally stopping in front of an old shop that looked quite aged.
"Silver Moon Alchemy Materials Shop."
The characters on the sign were somewhat faded, and the wood had been blackened by time, but the exquisite carving from years past was still visible. A few wooden buckets stood by the door, filled with various colored mineral powders—crimson, deep blue, and silvery-white—glistening in the sunlight.
Klein pushed the door open, and a copper bell let out a crisp ring.
The shop was filled with a mixture of smells—the pungency of sulfur, the bitterness of herbs, the metallic tang of rust, and other unidentifiable scents. Instead of being off-putting, these smells combined to create a strange sense of comfort.
At least, that was how it felt to Klein.
"Oh, Master Klein!"
The owner behind the counter looked up. He was a white-haired old man with thick glasses perched on his nose, his eyes narrowed to slits behind the lenses. "Here for more stock?"
"Yeah, I ran out of the red copper powder I bought last time." Klein walked to the counter and pulled over a stool to sit down with familiar ease. "Also, give me some moonlight grass and silver sand. The purity of the silver sand from last time was good; the results were excellent."
The owner began weighing the items with nimble hands, though his mouth didn't stay idle. "I heard you got married? The whole town's been talking about it, wondering which girl could snatch you away from your alchemy. I didn't believe it, but I didn't expect to actually see you bring someone today."
Having said that, he stole a glance at Ophelia standing behind Klein, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.
What a stunning girl!
But this outfit... why is she wearing a maid uniform? And the clothes are so ill-fitting.
The owner muttered to himself, but he was wise enough not to ask. Having been in business for so many years, what kind of guest hadn't he seen? Some things are better left unasked.
Klein smiled but didn't respond.
He knew there were many rumors in town, but he didn't care to explain. These rumors would naturally turn into new versions in a few days anyway, and then be replaced by other gossip a few days after that.
Life in a small town was like that—plain and full of trivialities.
The owner took a ceramic jar from the shelf and opened the lid, revealing dried silvery-white leaves that emitted a faint luminescence.
He pinched a few out, brought them to his nose to sniff, and nodded with satisfaction. "Fine moonlight grass, just arrived yesterday. This batch was harvested from the northern forest; the quality is even better than the last."
"How much?"
"Fifty grams of red copper powder, a small bundle of moonlight grass, silver sand..." The owner counted on his fingers, squinting as he thought for a moment. "That will be three silver coins total. The usual price, I'm not cheating you."
Klein pulled out his coin purse and was about to pay when he noticed Ophelia standing by the door. Her gaze was fixed on the jars and bottles on the shelves, seemingly observing something.
This was rare.
Along the way, Ophelia had shown almost no interest in anything except executing his orders. But now, her gaze lingered on those alchemy materials, and a flicker of... curiosity seemed to pass through her golden eyes.
"Why, are you interested in alchemy materials?" Klein asked casually, his tone carrying a hint of a probe.
Ophelia withdrew her gaze and shook her head expressionlessly.
"It's fine. If you're interested, feel free to look." Klein pushed the coins across the counter and said to the owner, "Give me some saltpeter too. The high-purity kind."
The owner took the money, chuckled twice, and lowered his voice. "Master Klein, are you planning to blow something up? Saltpeter is dangerous stuff; be careful not to send yourself to the heavens."
"Don't talk nonsense," Klein rolled his eyes. "I'm just researching some small gadgets. When have you ever seen me have an accident?"
"That's true," the owner smiled and shook his head, turning to retrieve the saltpeter. "You are the most capable alchemist around here; you certainly have a sense of proportion."
Klein stopped talking, his gaze falling on the materials on the counter.
Red copper powder, moonlight grass, silver sand, saltpeter... these were the basic materials he needed for his recent experiments. He was trying to improve the formula for a lighting rune; if successful, the effect should be much better than the ordinary lighting runes on the market.
Ophelia remained where she was, her eyes scanning the shelves before finally stopping on a bottle of light blue liquid in the corner.
The bottle wasn't large, only about the size of a palm, made of glass. The liquid inside glowed slightly, standing out remarkably in the dim shop, as if it were a small bottle of captured moonlight.
She stared at that bottle of liquid for several seconds, a nearly imperceptible ripple passing through her golden eyes.
Rate on N.U.
